The crowd at Tokyo Dome erupted for Samurai Japan one final time, after a 10-6 win over the Netherlands Tuesday night, as manager Koji Yamamoto led his squad onto the field to salute the fans following the team's last appearance on Japanese soil during the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
The atmosphere in the Big Egg that night had neither the unbridled relief that was present after Japan rallied for a 10-inning, 4-3 win over Taiwan to open the second round, nor the intoxicating jubilation brought on by the six home runs that contributed to a 16-4 thumping of the Netherlands that put the team into the semifinals.
This time, perhaps for the first time since pitcher Masahiro Tanaka came unhinged against Brazil in Japan's opener, there was more than cautious optimism about Japan's chances at a WBC three-peat.
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